Tarrant reflects, "If they liked you, they called you 'Indian,' 'Mr. Indian,' 'Mrs. Indian.' If they didn't like you, you were called 'Wahoo' or 'Chief.'" This highlights the mixed responses she received from her neighbors, encapsulating her unique experiences growing up as the only Native American in her predominantly Italian and Puerto Rican neighborhood.
Murielle shares, "The whole neighborhood was Italian, but the Smith Street area was considered a Puerto Rican enclave. Being neither ethnicity, she was often mistaken for both." Her experiences illustrate the challenges of identity and belonging in a diverse but segregated environment.
Reflecting on her childhood, Tarrant states, "You'd go down one block to one candy store, and the Puerto Ricans thought you were an Italian and you'd get chased down the block. And I would go to another candy store and the Italians thought I was Puerto Rican and I would get chased down the block." This vividly depicts her struggles with racial identity.
Tarrant recounts her family's history, "My family migrated to New York City in the 1800s, when Brooklyn was considered the country. Legend has it neighbors were against them moving into the borough. That’s the tipi tale, as I say in the play, is that there was a petition going around that we wouldn't buy it." This narrates her family's resilience and struggles for acceptance.
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